4 more, including 2 babies, succumb to H1N1 in Pune

Mohammad Mehboob Shaikh, the nine-month-old from the Kasewadi slums in Bhawani Peth, was admitted in the paediatric isolation ICU of Sassoon hospital on Aug. 26 with symptoms of H1N1. His condition soon deteriorated.

The boy died of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) at 7.30 p.m. on Sunday, after a futile struggle with H1N1 lasting for three days, declared Ashok Ladda, the joint director of the state health department.

Fifteen-month-old Nikita Shendge, the second child to fall prey to the virus belonged to Kolhewadi village in Ahmednagar district. She had been admitted to KEM hospital on Aug. 27. After her condition worsened she was shifted to Sassoon hospital.

The doctors disclosed that the child was in a grave condition, gasping for breath when she was hospitalized on Sunday and passed away the same evening at 7.40 p.m.

Upset over the untimely demise of Nikita because of delayed treatment, Dr Aarti Kinikar, head of the paediatric isolation ICU of Sassoon hospital, said, “The girl was shifted to our hospital at 6.30 pm in a critical condition. She was administered cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, but we were unable to revive her. She passed away at 7.40 pm.

“The baby could have been saved had KEM hospital started Tamiflu at the right time. Even the X-ray report of the baby showed that her chest was clear at the time of admission to KEM hospital. She developed a bilateral pneumonic patch after two days and became critical.”

The other two fatalities
The third person to succumb to the infection was 42-year-old Vilas Padale, a resident of Tungarli village in Lonavla.

A central railway employee, Padale was initially treated at Shraddha Hospital, Lonavala. He was later admitted to KEM hospital on Aug. 27 in a serious condition exhibiting high fever and acute breathlessness.

“He was critical and was on ventilator support right from the time of his admission. On August 28, he tested positive for H1N1 and on Sunday, he passed away because of ARDS,” said Dhananjay Chandakkar, deputy health officer.

The fourth casualty, 26-year-old Anil Nikam of Ramnagar in Dhankawadi, was admitted to Bharati hospital on Aug. 28 and died on Sunday at 9.30 p.m.

Dr Chandakkar confirmed that all four had tested positive for the virus.

Swine flu update from Pune
Meanwhile, around 60 cases of suspected H1N1 infections were being closely monitored in different hospitals in the city on Sunday. In addition, 15 patients under medical intervention were stated to be in serious condition.

According to health experts, most of the fatalities till now had other underlying health issues which got aggravated due to the virus. Irrespective of the deaths the city has witnessed, the doctors are optimistic that severity of H1N1 is waning.

“We were worried that there would be an influx of patients testing positive during Ganesh festival. That has fortunately not happened, maybe because the festival is being celebrated on a low key,” said Chandakkar.